What's behind puzzling closing of popular Washington Ave restaurant?

On October 9, the Coppa Ristorante website shows the restaurant has permanently closed.
copparistorante.com

Update: Coppa Ristorante posted to its website on October 9 that it has closed permanently. A representative from Clark/Cooper Concepts confirmed the closure and stated that "employees have been assigned within the concepts."

Washington Ave. Italian restaurant Coppa Ristorante has been closed since Friday. An employee at the restaurant told a CultureMap reader that "building maintenance issues" forced the closure, and that all reservations have been rebooked to other restaurants owned by Clark/Cooper concepts, including sister restaurant Coppa Osteria in Rice Village.

The employee did not specify what the "maintenance issues" are or when the restaurant would reopen. Whatever the problems with the building are, they have not affected Coco's Crepes, which occupies the other end of the Washington Ave. shopping center that houses Coppa. Coco's was open for business Saturday night while Coppa was dark.

"We have chosen to suspend service until we can resolve the building issue with our landlord and property manager."

"We have chosen to suspend service until we can resolve the building issue with our landlord and property manager. The owners and staff are so appreciative of your support and patronage throughout the years, and we look forward to seeing you again in the near future," Clark/Cooper says in a statement provided to CultureMap.

Clark/Cooper recently moved to differentiate the Washington Avenue original Coppa with an more upscale design and new menu from chef Brandi Key. Although the focus remains on wood-fired pizzas and house-made pastas, the ingredients have been upgraded and the mains have been improved.

While the restaurant is closed, the company's plans remain full-steam ahead to open The Dunlavy, an event space on Buffalo Bayou, and Mobile Mug, a coffee truck. According to the Clark/Cooper website, the company's seafood concept for the former Pesce space on Kirby has a name: Salt Air Seafood Kitchen.